Sectional hydrant or the like and breakable connection therefor



Sept. 6, 1938. E ROWE ET AL I 2,129,032

SEGTIONAL HYDRANT OR THE LIKE AND BREAKABLE CONNECTION THEREFOR Filed Sept. 18, 1937 4a 9/ V y //V I E/V7'OA?S B1115 L. RJOWG Eric Rutledge A T TOP/V5) Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE Ellis L. Rowe, Round Lake, and Eric A. Rutledge,

North Troy, N. Y., assig nors to Rensselaer Valve Company, Cohoes, N. Y., a corporation of New York Applicationscptember 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,504

3 Claims.

With the usual fire hydrant, the lower portion thereof is connected to the water supply system while the upper end thereof is provided with one or more connections for the hose used in fire fighting apparatus. As the water supply system is placed below the ground, the lower end of the hydrant must be similarly placed while the upper end thereof must, of necessity, be exposed for the ready attachment and detachment of the hose. A hydrant thus exposed, is necessarily subject to impact, and when it is an abnormally heavy one such as results from. the impact of a truck, the hydrant is very liable to be broken as the lower section of the hydrant is practically fixed in the ground, such breakage usually occurring near the ground line thus resulting not only in the breakage of the hydrant and expensive repairs, but also in interruption of the service of the hydrant which may at any moment be sorely needed.

It has hitherto been proposed to make the barrel of a fire hydrant in two sections and to connect the two parts by a breakable connection in order to avoid the renewal of the entire hydrant in case of breakage. Our present invention relates to a hydrant of this general character in which the design is simple, only inexpensive parts are damaged as a result of the breakage of the connecting element between the two sections and in which repairs to the hydrant are quickly and easily made. While we shall particularly describe our invention, in connection with a fire hydrant, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to other columns or objects such for example as lamp posts and concrete or metal columns a portion of which is fixed and another portion of which is movable and exposed to impacts.

Our invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of our invention and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fire hydrant in which we have illustrated our invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partially broken away and in section, illustrating on an enlarged scale the abutting ends of the two sections of a fire hydrant embodying our invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a supporting shoe forming one of the members of a breakable connection between the two sections of a hydrant;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a frangible block which is seated in the shoe and which is attachable to the free end of one of the bolts which connect the upper and lower sections of the hydrant;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View illustrating the breakable connection between the two sections of a fire hydrant;

Fig. 6 is a side View of the breakable connection between the twosections of the hydrant;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of frangible block, and

Fig; 8 is a plan view of the frangible block shown in Fig. '7 and showing by a wavy line approximately the manner in which the fracture in the frangible block occurs.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, II] indicates generally the barrel of a fire hydrant comprising a lower section IM and an upper section I62 disposed end to end and provided at their adjacent ends with respective outwardly extending abutting fianges H and l2. The two sections of the hydrant are preferably connected together by a plurality of bolts I3 which extend through registering openings I l formed in the two flanges. One surface of one of the flanges, preferably the lower surface of the lower flange, is faced and made fiat as at it; to form a support for a breakable element which. connects the two sections of the barrel of the hydrant. While it would be suificient to face the portions only of the sur; face of the flange which form supports for the breakable connection, we find in practice that it it easier toface the entire surface.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the supporting element for a given breakable connection comprises a shoe I6 in the form of a channel iron the web of which is seated against the said flat surface I5, the intermediate portion of the shoe being cut away transversely of the web as at I! to form an opening through which the free end of an associated bolt I3 passes, leaving solid supporting ends I63 at the ends of the web of the shoe. A comparatively small frangible block I8 is shaped to be received between the flanges I62 of said shoe and is attached to the free threaded end of the associated bolt I3, preferably by being threaded thereto. The frangible block is thus supported at its ends on the ends I63 of the web of the shoe while the portion thereof which is located over the opening I! is unsupported.

The parts connecting the two flanges are so designed that they withstand a considerable strain, and are not affected by the usual strains to which it may be subjected. When, however,

the hydrant is subjected to a sudden heavy shock, such as one resulting from a blow delivered by a truck, then the unusual strain causes the unsupported portion of the frangible block which is weakened by the threaded opening I8I therein to break approximately as indicated by the line I9 in Fig. 8, which will, of course, release the bolt I3. Normally, the space between the frangible block I8 and the flange II is practically sealed thereby excluding moisture and dirt and other foreign matter, At the same time this space provides a recess in which the broken parts of the frangible block may be received. In practice, a plurality of bolts with the associated breakable supporting elements are preferably provided circumferentially of the flange which are likewise broken under the conditions assumed above.

While we have illustrated the bolt and frangible block as threaded together, it will be understood that the frangible block could be attached to the bolt by means other than a threaded connection. It might, for example, be permanently connected to the free end of the bolt as by welding.

In Fig. 7 we have illustrated a modified construction in which the frangible block is supported directly against the face of the flange II. In the form here shown the frangible block I801. is provided at its ends with forwardly extending lugs I 8b preferably integral with the body of said frangible block and which are supported directly against the flat lower surface I of the flange I I thus leaving an open space between the lugs and forming an intermediate portion of the frangible block which is unsupported.

It will, of course, be understood that the hydrant is equipped with an operating valve stem and other accessories. These features constitute no part of our present invention and they have, therefore, not been illustrated.

It will also be understood that while we have described our invention in connection with a hydrant, that it is also applicable to a lamp post or other structure where similar conditions might obtain.

In case of breakage of the connection between the two sections of the hydrant, only the frangible brooks are broken. It is apparent, therefore, that the expense of the broken parts is negligible, they may be quickly and easily replaced, and the entire design is extremely simple. Furthermore, the parts may readily be so designed that they will withstand severe shock such as that which might be imposed upon the usual hydrant without damage, but when subjected to a sudden and excessive impact such as might break a usual hydrant, Will fail.

While We have described our invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which we have used are words of description and not of limitation. Hence, changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of our invention in its broader aspects.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a barrel for a hydrant or the like comprising twosections disposed end to end and provided with respective abutting flanges having registering openings and a bolt passing through said openings, of a frangible block supported at opposite ends only against the adjacent flange whereby said frangible element is unsupported at its intermediate portion.

2. In combination with a barrel for a hydran or the like comprising two sections disposed end to end and provided with abutting flanges having registering openings and one of which is provided with a fiat outer surface and a bolt passing through said openings, of a frangible block attachable to the free end of said bolt, a channel shaped shoe the web of which is seated against the said flat outer surface and the intermediate portion of which is provided with an enlarged opening through which the free end of said bolt extends, said element being supported against the ends of the web of said shoe and overlying the opening in said web whereby the intermediate portion of said element is unsupported and breaks under an abnormal load which may be imposed thereon.

3. In combination with a barrel for a hydrant or the like comprising two sections disposed end toend and provided with abutting flanges having registering openings and a bolt passing through said openings, of a channel iron comprising spaced flanges and the web of which is cut away at its intermediate portion to leave spaced sup-' porting bars at the ends thereof, and a frangible block attachable to the free end of said bolt and supported at its ends on said spaced supporting bars whereby the intermediate portion of said frangible element is unsupported.

ELLIS L. ROWE. ERIC A. RUTLEDGE. 

